I’m an emotional guy. I can’t help it. Most of the time I do a great job of not showing that in everyday life. Friends and family think of me as a level headed dude, but on my own thoughts and emotions can sometimes envelop my entire being. Music an important contributing factor to this, and often a song is what sends me into a tailspin. Sometimes it can be the songs that make litteral sense, like “Mr Brightside” or “Free Fallin”, but other times a word or a chord from an out of context song can send my imagination into overdrive. A lot of what this blog is about revolves around the songs that ‘dont make sense’. Much of the time we hear songs and we make of them what we will. We extrapolate emotional situations that don’t exist… we self aggrandize and center the world as if the song were written for our own sorrow. This, to me, is what makes music amazing.

Walter Sobcek has been on our radar for quite some time. They are an amazing talent and they deserve all the great things that are on their way. A few weeks ago when we were given their cover of Hall and Oates “She’s Gone”, a moment of intense emotional clarity came over me. I couldn’t help but listen to the song over… and over… and over again. Sonically, and lyrically, it made perfect sense. Yes, Hall and Oates are genius, but this version has taken things in a different direction that feels like it was written for me, and hopefully, for you.

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Walter Sobcek – She’s Gone

My brain was in overdrive halfway through hearing this song on first listen. I wanted to write every girl I’ve ever been in love with to tell them this is how I feel. I wanted them to put headphones on, and experience what I was hearing. Sonically, this song is perfect. Its like floating down a river on a just-humid-enough day, with the bugs buzzing five feet above your head, but not bothering you. I listened to it and I wanted to find someone to tell about it. It made me want to reach out and connect, no matter how far away they were. It’s perfect as far as I’m concerned.

(Quick side note) I also wanted to comment on the growing obsession that hipsters have with yacht rock. I can’t really complain about it, since MacDonald, Chris Cross, Loggins, are legitimate influences in NightWaves’ music, as well as most of Binary’s childhood… but its worth noting. I guess this is part of the same backlash that started the chillwave and dreamwave movements, but this is an interesting faction of that because of the irony. There’s no doubt that a lot of people that host ‘yacht rock’ parties are listening to this stuff with the same taste of irony that people smirk with when they bump to Lil Wayne. (I love both for what its worth. I dont THINK I’m listening to it ironically). Hipster Runoff could probably elaborate properly. Either way, there’s no doubt people love this music because it represents everything that blog haus and dubstep isn’t. It’s musical, melodic, and emotional.

All of that said, Walter Sobcek taps into all of the familiar touchstones.

I can’t help but feel like I’m wrapped up inside a classic novel while listening to this song. She’s gone… She’s gone…… when I’m driving around it just makes me want to make desperate and rash decisions. Why have you gone away? Why didn’t you stay? We talk about emotion a lot here, but the unique thing is that we seem to talk a lot more about sorrow, sadness, and loneliness, than we do about feeling good. Rarely are we actually content with things. I’m sure it’s because music is best at helping us get through the shitty times. This song is undeniably melancholy, and yet when I hear it, I can’t help but feel the hope permeating throught the song. It made me want to reach out to a girl and tell her that she means something; that the future is bright. It makes me feel hopeful for my own future.

Walter Sobcek has tapped into something special here. I’m quite excited about the prospect of hearing more music that fits within these boundaries. The harmonies are nothing but gorgeous, and the production represents a giant step forward for the guys from France. The largest praise I can give the song is that it made me intensely jealous. Not only do I want to listen to it over and over, but hearing it gets me depressed because I want to mae something this beautiful. Kudos fellas.

PS. Don’t be dumb, go watch the video. It will make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

Walter Sobcek – She’s Gone (Video)

Posted by: Josh (Binary)